Adjusting-rod-locking means



May 6; 1930. E W T 1,757,787

ADJUSTING ROD LOCKING MEANS Filed Aug. 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l WWW 1 WATERS wucmtoz May 6, 1930. E. T. WATERS ADJUSTING ROD LOCKING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,M. L a 0 M PM u e M m I l I 0 l-Ll, a 2 m U a N, 5. \HWVQ, m Q. Q h p .E |%1\ WM 5 V nu z a, 0 H 2 g z. E ..u m m m. n 5 7 others, to provide asimple, ,durable'and-efiiclent v1se- Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES Emm w e -Ens M H NEBRASK snJ s n eB -mmsue MEANS I Application filed August 13, 1928. Serial No, 29938;).

My. invention relates broadly to devices for looking a longitudinally movable member ac curately in any of a series of adjusted positions relative to a fixed member, the several positions differing by uniform multiples of length. More particularly my invention relates to the locking of a transversely notched orgrooved longitudinally.movable rod in a series of positions difiering according to the pitch or spacing of the grooves, and in other positions respectively intermediate the positions of thefirst-mentioned series. My invention isespecially adapted and intended i'orvuse in connection with integral-line type casting machines, for locking the adjustingrod otthe movable v1se-Jaw1n adjustecl positions, to adapt the vise-01: receiving groups of matrices of definite linerlengths and no A specific-object of my invention is j awadjustingwod lock for type-casting Inachines of the class described,.the locking device beingso constructed that it may be readily substituted for t hejmdevicesi'now in common use on such machines. Afurther ob ect is to provide convenient and accessible actuting means for the l cking member, sa d actuating means being adapted for mdlce mg to the operator Whether the member is in lookingor releaseposi n, an when in'l ocking position, indicating also in which series of positions thegadjusting-rrodis held. More particular objectswof my. inv ntion W 11 @P pea-r hereinafter.

In theeceompenymg drew ngs lg'r 1 15 a perspective rear v ew showing a po t on 'ef theivis .ef e type-ee tingimeehine, end

the v s i 'w adju ting Locking means therefo embedy ng my nventlen;

Fig. 2 is a. detail iregmenteryiront vi w of the. leeleectuatingins ne, with th handle remotes; .Eig-

i e d A c section en the l ne Q-f Eig-Z Fig; :4;

a front. View o the l ekingdeviee end p.01:- ti ns of thei sliusting-rod; ig-

is e si -.1e

view of the same; ig- ,6 f reen view oi the SQ-B16; Figi seem; view 'ofthe locking device with the-lower portio the o broke may at -.tl.1e heel-plane e sdjizstingzred axis; Eigt e .k theseie I s g 7 use ereeei 1es-ereue.s

of the device,p artially in vertical section on the line 8-' .8 of Fig.7 Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig.7 but showing the lockingpin in a second locking position, and Fig.

10 is a detail transverse section onthe line ,10.-'l0 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 ofthe drawings the lockingude .vice embodying my invention is shown @S applied to a type-casting machine of the ellknoWn Mergenthaler structure, the figure being a perspective view showing the rearward side oi he upp l ftnd port on of t vi e- Inc uded in th p ative e ronment of my o king ce, as r pres nte n s Fig- 1, arepo tio s o h v se-frame 10, the

' leiitehand.vise-jawll, first-elevator slide 12,

vise-lockingscrew 13, the'vise-jaw adjustingbar 14, the vise-jaw adjusting-har-link 15, the vise-jaw Wedge-bracket 16, the vise-j aw wedge 17, the vise-jaW Wedge spring 18, and vise-jawwedge=adjusting bushing l 9, all of which will be understood to be of the usual end -known s ructur and mode of opera on I pp y ng inventio to the for geing st uctur I p o de a v se-jaw a justng r d 2.0, se-jaw Wedserblockmm i iaw adj stinge clocking-pin .2,W i h ar ub t u d for he or esp ed g'pert Qfth ordin ry tructu The s b ti t on 0 th Pens.;.i fie d by d s onnec ing the adj 'iesrrodime the link hdta in s r d from the u ing 19 an h edge-block,

l t ing out the Wedsebleek and locking-p n, nd hen as mblies il -lik mannerthe Part 7 2 aede22vpr ded'hymyin ee en- In the Qperetie 9 ype-cas ing a h n o this class, he-iet s eUiees 9 tim less are cas n en th arying byrhelt-pie'es, and y thee-s iti s deeirebl thet the as iestm ntsie hevi e isv eheeldte m T s flea sthss to len h emi-ee ethess The ir s l nsee tweet rs; usu lly se um ts-. ro ves .0 3 .7 I

In the usual structure, also, the locking-pin is held in engagement with the adj ustin-grrod merely by spring-pressure, so that after a period of use, when some "wear of the interengaged teeth has occurred, or if the notches and teeth of the parts becomeslightly fouled with dust,greaseor the like, the locking-pin may, yield and allow longitudinal slippage of the adjusting-rod. Furthermore, because of the small pitch of the notchesand teeth of the ad usting-rod and loclnng-pin, the oper= ator is quite apt to err in setting the adjusting-rod, or may leave said rod at an inter mediate position, withtheteeth of the lock ing-pin resting upon the teeth orridges of the rod, instead of being ilai operlj engaged in the notches of the rod, whereby slippage of the rod to an improper adjustment is permitted. The foregoing objectionable features and difliculties of operation of the usual locking device for the vise-j aw adj usting-rod,are

avoided by "thejuse of my-improved locking device and the actuating an'dfindicating means therefor.

The ad Listin -rod 20 nrovided in the illusz: l trated embodiment of my invention has a plurality of rectangular circumferential grooves ing between them rectangular annular ridges uniformly spaced longitudinally, and formor teeth 20, preferably of substantially the same width as the intervening grooves. Said adjusting-rod.differs fromthe ordinary adjusting-rod, in that the pitch or longitudinal spacing ofthe teeth and grooves is twice great as in the ordinaryrod, said pitch'heing one pica t-h inch) insteadof one-halfpica th inch). zontal cylindrical opening for-receiving slid- "ablythe adjusting-roch'and a vertical rectan- Fig 7; and atthe lower end'of the transverse opening a similarseries of'ridges or teeth 25 are provided, the same being EIClElPfECl'tO inter mesh with the adjusting-rod teeth when the locking-pin Qis} in the raised position shown in Fig. 9. Alt-the intermediate position of the locking-pin shown iii-Fig.8, both series of the, teeth '24:.and -are disengaged from the adjusting-rod and the naernm'be freely moved longitudinallyjto adj usted posi-' tions. The teeth 24 25 are offset or'interspaced longitudinally of a 1 the adj Listing-rod axis, f t thgteethf25 are respectively opposite the grooves 'intermedlate the teeth The wedge-block has a hori- 24. In consequencethereof, the rod may be locked by the engagement therewith of the teeth 24, in a series of positions differing according tothe pitch of the teeth 20 on the r0cl, or. at intervals of one pica; and similarly, by interengagement of the teeth 25 with the teeth 20 on the r0d, the lattermay be locked in any of a series of positions differing by one pica'each; but the second seriesof adjusted positions of the rod arerespectively intermediate those of the first series, differing. therefrom by one-half pica.

Theportion of the wedge-block in front'of the locl ring-pin, adjoining the vise-frame, is

formed by a plate 26 which is fixedly secured to'the body of the block by screws 27. The plate 26.:is extended'upwardly so as to pro- 'ect above the u oer ed eof'the vise frame 7 1; 7

as shown in Fig. 1, and in said projecting portlOll' Of the plate a shouldered cylindrical opening 18 formed, in which the crank-disk 28 is disposed revolubly, said crank-disk 'be-' ing shouldered to correspond withthe form of the opening, and being insertable thereln from the rear side of the plate 26, as best shown in Fig. 10. To the front end of the crank-dislrthe handle 29 is secured removably by means of the screws 30, the hub portion of thejhandle being of larger diameter than'the front end of the crank-disk, where by to extend over the face of the plate 26 and retain the disk therein. Stop-pins 31, pro eicting from-theface of the plate 26 as shown,

limit rotation'of the handle to slightly more than half of a complete revolution. The" front end-of the crank-disk hastherein a' diametricallyextending rectangular slot 32 in one end of which is slidably disposed the block 33 Thef'orank-pin 34? is formed integrally with saidblool: 33' and extends through a short slot-35 in the rear'portion of the disk 28. A roller 36ismounted revolubly upon the portion ofthe crank-pin which project-s from the rear end of the crank-disk, andv said roller fits within a hor zontal rectangular groove formed 'in "the frontside ot the looking-pin 22, near the'upper end thereof,-

the arrangement being such'that by rotation of thecranlr-disk the locking-pin may 'be moved; vertically from (and i to the locking positionsthereof shown in Figs. 7,' and 9. In the slot 32 of'the crank-disk, adjoining the end of the' block 33, arranged a pair of coil springsj38 of which the' ends rest upon pins '39 -j)1 ojee ti1ig'intothe slot 32'at the'end thereof opposite the crank-pin, as shown in Figs. 2'and-3. By the pressure of said springs upon the block 33the end of the block'is held normally in frictional engagement with thev side of the openinginithe plate 26, and serves as brake tending to hold-the cranlndisk' in any position to which it is turned. Also, by.

yielding ofthe springs 38, the block 33 is movable to; slightly reduce the throw or radius of-movement ofthe crank-pin, which is normally slightly greaterthan is required tor aetuatln-g tlDJQ'lOCkIHgFPEhB between the ex treme positions thereof indicated 1n Figs.

'5 vand. 9; The arrangement is such that when the handle 29-is-tua ned'to1t he tertioal'positi-on shown-in Fig; 8, the crank-pin holds the loch.

ing'pin in the intermediate position at which I iree:longitudinalmovement of the adjusting rod is permitted, and byturningrthehandie from said vertical position-toeontactwith either of the stop-pins 3.1 the crank-pin; is

imoired slightly past its upper or lower dead- Center, asthe oasemay be. Upon approach.-

ing ith-e dead-center positionsof the crankpin, however, further movement of thelooking-pin is prevel-ited by-its engagement with the adjusting-rod, so that theoompletion of the movement 'ofthe handle andIcrank-disk is permitted only by theyiel'ding of the springs 38 toreduce-the throw of the crankpinto equality-with the travel of the looking-pin. After-the crank-pin passes the dead- -c'enter' positions, the springs 38 expandand force the block 38' again to the outer'position, therehytend-ing to hold the handle 29 down against-the respective stop-pin with which It will be seen that when the crank-pin is in the described l o'o'king p'ositions' thereoff it cannot be displaced therefrom by vertical pressure upon or from thelooking-pinv For' example, when the locking-pin is-in the posi ition shown in' Fig. 7 upward pressure there on tending to release or'disengagefthe same from the adj ustinga'od, will-iner'ely press the F crank-handle 29 down more firmly again-st thestop-pin31 withwhioh it is engaged and a similar effect will be produced by downward pressure upon the locking-pin when the same is in the raised position shownjin Fig;

9. Thus the adjusting-rod can be released only by intentional aetion of the operator,

consisting in'turning the handle 29 to the raised or releasing position thereof; and accidental releasing ofthe adjusting-rod, by

reason'of longitudinal pressure thereon actuating the looking-p111 to release position, is

V efli'ectively prevented.

The position of the crank-handle- 29 serves to indicate to the operator whether the locking-pin is inreleasing or in looking position, and also, if 1n locking posltion, the handle will show in which of 1 the two series of adjust-merits the adjusting-rod 20 is held. The

latter indication results from the relative in-f terspaoing of the teeth 24 and 25 longitudinally of the adjusting-rod by an amount opposite ends off said openinginthe lockingy 's waid.v lQeking-pin and engaigeable V 'g QVQ 1 1 1 6 adjusting-rod alteram that the.=adjusting rod -is locked in; position for the casting: of. lines which are-some mum'- her; of fall pieasin length,ithen when: the handl'e isi in theleft=hand locking'positioirr shown in Fig. 7,;lh-Ylll? indicatethatithe adjustingrod and vise-jawpare positioned-for the casting; of lines of whichthe length-is an odd number 10f halfspioas or nonpar'eils Thus,

lav glancingat the handle-29,, the operator of the-type-casting machine may: fbe, assured; at anytime: thatzthevise-jaw adjusting-rod: is locked itsadjustn'lent, and that the adjustment is fordine-lengths of :Eul l'; picas, or

for, the intermediate lengths usually denoted V asnonp'aireil lengths, as the: easem'ay be, I w Now,having.descrihedmy invention, what vI- claim and. desire to" secureby LettersaRatentist;

3 1.1 In"; a stiiueture of the 'thelcombination; with a transversely grooved q adj-usting rod,andf a block. a; along-L tudinal; openingthrough' which said rod ex fielrdsr slidahlgv; of f a looking-pin extending slidablyt-lirougl1 a transverse:opening in,said block; said, transverse opening. intersecting the longitudinal opening for; the? adjustingrod an'd; said locking-pin having an, elongated opening; through, which the? adj using rod passes, there being series of teeth at thev pin,?said? series of teeth being alternatively g g le; in he gr oves.- of; the; adjusting-v rod by movement-of the looking-epi' n relative.

"to said bl'ock, ;on e series of saidte'ethbeing interspaoedrelative tothe, othernseries Wherer. "1

by; toengage in the grooves of the'rod when 1 the same, is; at positions-lintermediatethe positions at, which the grooves are engaged by the teeth of thelother series and' means 91 ac-tuatingsazid looking-pin 1 -;2.-In a; structure Iotthe elass descrihed; the combination with an; adiustingerod hava uniform series of transversely extending grooves therein; and a blockjathrfough -whieh said rode-Xtendsslidahly,ofialQCk. Y @111 extending through saidblock transverse of} the opening tor, the adj usti-ngyrod "and movable I laterally 1 of the .adju'stinge iod vaxis,

members earriedihy isaiid locking-pin, and; enj lgageableain the grooves-0ttheadjusting -red a to presentlongi-tudinalmovement of said rod relative to -the,ibloc-k,

gitudinal' of the,; tlji1$i3ifig&r(2d 53nd sans for-gaetuatingthe loekingpim toselec y engage said meuibers :withthe :rod .andto retainthe same-inengaged-position,, v j i :3: Ina-structure of theolassrdeseribed,the

equal to one-hall the pitch of the teeth; so that if, when the handle is at the right-hand locking position shown in Fig; 9, iii-indicates block through which said rod is'longitudinally movable, of'a lockingmember mounted insaid block in fixed relation thereto longi- 'tudinally of the adj usting -rod .an dlmovable relatively thereto laterally of. the acljus'ting.-'

rod, said locking member having a 'plu rality of "elements severally engageable with the laterally extending portions of the ad.-

ijusting-rod'to lockthe rofd in adjustedrrelations to the block, said elements being relatively interspaced longitudinally of the adlocking memberto engage said several elements'with the rod selectively.

4:. In a structure of the class described, the

I combination with an adjusting-rod having a series of laterally extending I portions uniformly spaced longitudinally thereof,fand a block through whioh" said rod is longitudi nally movable, of a locking-member mounted inisaid block, in fixed relation thereto longitudinally of the" adj Listing-rod and movable relatively theretolaterallyof the adjusting- "rod, 'and ielements carried by said lockingtmember'at opposite sides of the adjustingrodand:alternatelyengageable with the laterallyextending portionsofthe adjusting- ;rod tol'oclrthe block} '5 f 7 Li 1 v In a structure as set forth' inclaima, means connecting said block and lockingrod in fixed relations to the member and movabletof actuate said'l'ocking-member to its alternative locking positions, and means for retaining said actuating mean's in the alternative locking POSltlOIlS-f 6. In a; structureas' set forth in claim 14, means' connecting said blockand lockmgmember and movable 'to actuate said locking- 'member alternatively to selected locking posit-lons, sa d means be ng mnnovable from said locking u positions thereof by "force exerted thereon trom the locking-member.

. ln'astructure of the class-described, the

combination vvith'the vise jaw;adjusting-rod,

Wedge-block, and locking pin movable in the gusting-rod," and means for actuating said 1 thedea-d-center' positions ofthe crank-pin.

the crank-disk; j V l 1 EDl/VAR-D 'l. XVATERS. 's

crankdisk for turning thesame, and frictional braking means tending to'retain the crank-disk in positions to which it is turned. '9. "In a structure of theclass described, the

combinationwith the vise-j aw adjusting rod, V i wedge-block and locking-pin movable in the wedge-block i transversely of "the adjustingrodto engage and lock the latter iii-adjusted )7 relations to theiwedge-block; of a crank member operatively 'connected'with the locking-pin and having a throw normally, greater than the travel of the locking-pimfactuating means connected yieldingly with said crank member, ,andstopsfor limiting movement of said actuating means. I 10. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the vise-jaw adjustingrod, wedge-block, and locking-pin movable V in the Wedge-block transversely of the -adjusting-rod to engageand lock the latterin adjusted "relations to the. Wedgeblock; of means for actuating said locking-pin and v retaining the same in selected positions, comprising a l crank-disk" mounted for rotation about, an axis fixed relatively tothe wedge block, afcrank-pinmounted upon said disk agradius greater than required for effecting a IIliLXlIHuml-IfaVBl oi the lOCklIlg- PlIl, a han- 'for movement radially thereof and-operative I 1y connected with'the locking-pin, resilient means yieldingly holdingsaid crank-pin at dle' secured to the crank-disk, and stops ar-\ rangedtofpreventimovement of the cranln i .disk inexc'essof predetermined amounts past 111; A structure as set-forthinclaim'10, in

cludinga block slidable radiallyofthe crankdisk and carrying the crank-pin, said block being engaged by the resilient means and'nor Inally held thereby in frictional engagement with a braking surface to resist rotation of I wedge-block transversely of the adjusting-V 7 rod to engage-and lock the? latter in adjusted r I relations'to the wedge-block; 0f actuating 11193118 1501 said locking-pin "comprising a crank-disk mounted to revolve on an axis v fixed relatively tothe wedge-block,ra"crankpin carried by said disk and operatively con- I nected withthe lockinggpiii, and a handle for turning said crank-disk and indicat lng the position of thelock ing-pinl 8, In a structure of the' cjla'ssdescribed,the combination'With'the viseaw ad usting-rod,

' wedge-block, and locking-pin movable in the vvedge-block transversely-Jot the adjustingrodto' engageandlock th'e latterfin adjusted I l I 

